Ringworm: Home and Natural Treatments

As a fungal infection, ringworm is highly contagious and can spread to other people or other parts of the body from contact with clothing, towels, or of course, skin. Most ringworm remedies are topical, meaning that an ointment or cream is applied to the infected area. Many ringworm cures have a side effect of slight pain or something similar, though this is a small price to pay for dispelling the infection.

While ringworm is very distinct, a doctor will likely take a sample of the infected area and examine it with a microscope. If the presence of fungi is revealed, he or she will be able to prescribe or recommend any number of cures for ringworm. Most methods are fast-acting, but if the infection has festered for an extended period of time, the process might be much slower.

Commonly Found Home Products

When infected with ringworm how to treat it naturally varies based on the severity and what products one may have at home. Many food items that most have readily available can be utilized for this.

Vinegar and Salt Paste

One of the easiest and most accessible home remedies for ringworm is a paste made of salt and vinegar. Simply mix the two together until there is enough salt to soak up all of the vinegar, forming a paste, and spread it on the afflicted region. let it work at the fungi for five minutes or so, then rinse it off with medium-cool water. This process should take about a week to cure ringworm.

Garlic Cloves

With an already impressive list of health benefits and easy accessibility, garlic is possibly the best home remedy for ringworm. Simply mash a clove of garlic and secure it against the ringworm infection with a band-aid, gauze, or other sterile method, and leave it on for several hours. The same clove of garlic can generally be used for as long as eight or more hours, and many people who know how to treat ringworm recommend this as an overnight treatment.

Aloe Vera

This substance comes in a variety of forms, most notably ointments and gels. It is usually used for its anti-inflammatory properties, though it makes a great natural ringworm treatment as well. Simply apply it to the ringworm several times a day until it is gone.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Another healthy product found in the home, apple cider vinegar has sometimes been an accidental ringworm cure for those who do not know how to cure ringworm. This is because it is already great for the skin, providing various benefits and clearing up imperfections. Swabbing the area with a cotton ball is the easiest way to do this; repeat up to five times per day to see results in as little as three days.

Tea Tree Oil

Though possibly less common than the previous ringworm home remedies, this oil is quite potent and healthy when used topically. Be careful not to ingest it, however; while it is a great solution on how to kill ringworm, it is harmful if consumed. Be sure to dilute it to at least a 1:1 ratio before applying.

Other Natural Solutions

Fresh Turmeric

Turmeric can be found in most supermarkets and herbal stores. Fresh turmeric is less common, but can be extracted and swabbed on as a cure for ringworm.

Tea of Olive Leaves

Another anti-fungus, olive leaves can be used to steep a tea that can be consumed thrice daily. This is one of the few internal natural remedies for ringworm.

Tea of Lemongrass

Lemongrass can also be steeped and consumed at the same frequency as olive leaf tea. This is possibly the single best treatment for ringworm for those who are concerned with cost versus effectiveness, as the tea bags (or fresh steeped leaves) can be used to topically treat the infection.

Oil of Lavender

This is one of the few options for ringworm home treatment that can be used for basically all infections of fungal origin, such as athlete’s foot.

Myrrh

This substance is a great smelling resin from a thorny plant. Making a paste of this, goldenseal, and some water provides a great topical ringworm home remedy.

Colloidal Silver

Finally, this impressively strong antibiotic can be used to destroy several hundred types of harmful microorganisms. It is a great antifungal agent and will quickly dispel a ringworm infection.

Sagar is co-founder and CTO at Multia, a leading creative agency in Pune. He started his venture when he was 16, he has won numerous international and national web development competitions and has worked on 100+ web, mobile and online marketing projects. He’s a globe-trotter and has traveled to San Francisco, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta and Bali Islands.